Attracting Young Professionals

[ProjectMaximus]

What would you tell Mayor Brown if he asked what we need to do to attract and retain young professionals in this city?

I know what I think, please share your thoughts.

[Spence]

1) adopt the equal rights ordinance and provide protection equally for whoever loves whomever else.

2) context sensitive street redesign, especially in ALL areas where it can be as simple as repainting the road deck.

2) re-boost the sidewalk dollars back up to where they were in years past.
Our pedestrian connections are sorely LACKING

3) RIDE THE BUS AND SKYWAY TO AND FROM HIS OFFICE EVERYDAY FOR THE REST OF HIS TERM. with or without entourage.

4) Permanently SHELVE any ideas regarding the reintroduction of a moratorium on  the mobility fee.

5) Attend BPAC meetings

6) familiarize himself with the 2035 LRTP

7) Attend monthly Sherriffs walks

maybe DON't sell JEA

9) get to know Hogans Creek and how simple compatible insect, all organic gardening is, and assist in the implementation of permaculture as pertains to any new construction and redevelopment.

10)_______________
Join in the conversation

[peestandingup]

Before making any list of demands or improvements that wouldn't be taken seriously anyway, I'd simply tell him to "shit or get off the pot". Meaning, either start taking some stands on things, keep the promises you made, get out there & be seen, be your city's loudest advocate, etc.

Or, resign & take half of this town's good ol boy "leadership" with you.

[ProjectMaximus]

Good thoughts, spence. Speaking generally then, it seems connectivity, walkability, urban design and transit are the recurring theme? Equality, safety, education and maximizing our natural assets are also important. Is this true for all citizens and not just young professionals? Is glitz and glamour useful? What is BPAC?

[fsujax]

Bicylce Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).

[Pinky]

As I see it, there are a few very obvious things that could make this city more attractive.  In no specific order:

- The Equal Rights Ordinance needs to be passed.  Not because anything in it transcends the Stunningly Obvious Rules By Which We All Typically Interact, but because it's passage is a "litmus test" as to whether our City Council and Mayor have their heads up their asses or not.  Which is a nice segue to my next point..

- We need to elect leaders who do not have their heads up their asses.  Seriously, Redman?  Kim Daniels?  Hell, Alvin Brown???  These are the best and brightest in our city??  If that's the case, no wonder we wallow in mediocrity.

- Downtown needs to be made livable.  I do it, but it's a huge hassle.  A few more shopping and "off hour" eating options (try to eat anything at 8:00 sunday morning without going over a bridge or to Springfield) would go a long way.

- Speaking of going a long way; How about making the Skyway go someplace?  Extend that sucker down to 5 Points, The Stadium, San Marco, and Springfield.  I mean, we've got the bastard, lets use it. 

- I continue to advocate for the demolition of at least the Old Courthouse, and preferably the annex as well, and replacing them with a beautiful riverfront park *here in the part of downtown where people actually go*.  It's long been said that we need to connect the city and the riverfront more cohesively, including discussions of gutting the center of The Landing to do so..  A park would do that while creating a space that would attract people to the city core in general.

- The biggest "attractor" though, has to be Good Paying Jobs.  It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that Ching.  Bring the jobs here, and the rest works itself out.

[Cheshire Cat]

Can some of you define "young professionals" for me?   I an interested in how individuals view the term and why the importance of drawing young professionals?  This is a question geared toward conversation and understanding.  Not a challenge.  lol  For instance, what is young?  Under 20, under 30, under forty and what constitutes a "professional"?  What do you see "young professionals" bringing to a community that others cannot?

[MEGATRON]

Bicylce Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC).

LMAO if this is truly an effort at attracting young professionals.

[Josh]

Can some of you define "young professionals" for me?   I an interested in how individuals view the term and why the importance of drawing young professionals?  This is a question geared toward conversation and understanding.  Not a challenge.  lol  For instance, what is young?  Under 20, under 30, under forty and what constitutes a "professional"?  What do you see "young professionals" bringing to a community that others cannot?

Disposable income.

[Cheshire Cat]

That is true Josh but there are a bunch of older folks with disposable income as well.  Can you add some more specifics?  For instance would it be how the younger folks spend their disposable income that makes them staying in Jacksonville attractive?

[cline]

^Because young professionals typically spend their money on things such as restaurants, bars, entertainment etc. at a higher  rate than older people with disposable income. 

I also think that it is important to attract (and retain) young professionals because it lays the foundation for future leaders in the City.  This is something Jax desperately needs right now- fresh leadership.  We've been stuck for too long being run by the old guard.  Getting more young professionals here will help to cultivate that.

[Cheshire Cat]

I would agree Cline and Josh with what you have shared and thank you for engaging the conversation.  Tell me in your view where is the cut off date for young and what should ones employment be that makes them a "professional"?  Again, I have a reason for asking and it goes to overall understanding of how some view the issue and what can indeed be done to "attract" young professionals. 

[thelakelander]

A young professional's age range is roughly 20 to 40-45.  Here is wikipedia's definition:

The term young professional generally refers to a young person not in school who is employed in a profession or white-collar occupation. The meaning may be ambiguous[1] and has evolved from its original narrow meaning of a young person in a professional field.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_professional

[Cheshire Cat]

I am glad to see the age limits seem to have gone up Ennis.  Back in my day there was a saying about not trusting "anyone over thirty", which was quite a low age ceiling.   

The reason I ask for clarification on the age that is considered young and what the criterion for professional is based upon is because of what time and experience has shown me.  For instance one can be of relatively young biological age and still be a "stodgy stick in the mud".  One can also be of advanced physical age and still be "vibrant of mind and creative in thought", say perhaps like a Richard Branson. One can be well educated and professional and still not have the skills or money to set in motion an upward trend in a community.  I will grant that people who are physically young are generally much more active socially in a modern context, i.e. frequenting trendy bars and restaurants (cause they have the energy) and ability to drop money on clothing, cars and tech gadgets although these tendencies are not exclusive to them. I will also acknowledge that one of the strengths of youth is the willingness to boldly try new things and enterprises along with the fact that they have not been fooled into thinking their ideas are impossible.  They remain excited with all the potential of life, which is how it should be.  If we look toward Europe and the many walkable communities, vibrant towns and urban cores we can site more than a few examples of situations where a communities draw is not in it's youth but its ethnicity and age, as well as it's financial well being.  So is youthful draw the entire answer?

Make no mistake, the advantages of biological youth are many.  When one talks about "young professionals" and the energy they can bring to a community I wonder if the thought that attracting and keeping them will bring about deep and long lasting change is in fact accurate.   Especially when it comes to the fabric our own community unless the influx of new energy comes in a new way that is non threatening and understandable to everyone.  Keep in mind that many a young professional will end up getting married begin a family and ultimately settle down.

When we think about future leadership, it is very possible that a youthful leader can come from a blue collar background and have the drive, understanding and interest to move a community forward based in the depth of their own life struggles and experiences.  Youth and young families are what gives a community the ability to move forward and grow.  They all do not need to be "professionals" to do so.  Perhaps young professionals should include folks from a broader career background.

The picture I get when I hear of drawing "young professionals" is one that seems to have a greater focus on the core or urban development (correct me if I am wrong).  If that is the case, simply drawing more young professionals to the core will not jump start Jacksonville because our problems are with our leadership, city policies, community attitudes and the failure to understand that we are still a "southern town" with old school attitudes.  It is my feeling that when we begin to craft a future for Jacksonville that blends the old with the new, we might be on to something that is workable.  But we have to change our politics and politicians first!

I believe that young folks and "professionals" need to take a very serious stake in the politics of our town and while doing so they should tap into the creative and open minded political players who have been around for a while for input and advice, because young professionals are on both sides of the political isle and in Jacksonville political electability is the cog on which this city will ultimately turn.  IMO  I would also point out that the leadership has remained republican and ask that leadership moved us forward?  (Yes Alvin is a Dem of record but he is greatly influenced by the Republican money who put him in office.)

It has been my experience that "Free Thinkers" are the forward movers and believe me they are not all rich.  Artists, poets, intellectuals, gays and a broad spectrum of nationalities is what makes a community really thrive.  But the blossoming of things like ethnic communities, creative enclaves and developing intellectual communities cannot really be created but must be born of their own accord and blossom on their own.  This will take a renewed effort and decisive energy behind this notion of human rights and fairness in our town because when thinking opens up, so will greater opportunity.  IMO

The key to allowing these things to happen is to be found in our leadership and city policies.  It is there the greatest focus should go and it is there the changes must be made.  The things like transportation, walkable neighborhoods, positive growth all are filtered through the lens of current leadership and it's not working for us the way it should.

It is my view that we need to rethink how we view our city and how we speak about it and "MEDIA" is a big player in this regard.  Jacksonville is not just a podunk town, but if you watch the news you often see media present us in that fashion by doing everything from featuring story lines that are more negative than forward thinking and somehow managing to find the most illiterate among us to interview for comment.  lol  We have plenty to be proud of here that needs to be shared and it will take all ages to make that known to the nation and world.

Note*  Higher education of our youth is also key to our growth and keeping them here once educated is also important. 

[downtownjag]

I think you've all made great suggestions; but you don't attract young professionals, you attract companies that bring the jobs that attract young professionals. Get the companies and they will attract the young professionals.